Japanese Spitz
Japanese Spitz is a pure white, small to medium breed of Japan which is very much loyal and devoted it’s the parents.
Breed Profile
Height
12 - 13
Inches
Weight
11 - 13
Pounds
Life Span
12 – 18
Years
Health
health
Luxating Patella
What is it?:
Luxating Patella is a condition where the kneecap moves out of its grove and causes pain and discomfort.
Clinical signs
The clinical symptoms of this condition may include -
Stiffness in the leg
Skipping and jumping to slide the kneecap back in its place
Changes in the walk of the dog
Discomfort or pain while walking
Treatment
The treatment for luxating patella depends on the severity of the medical condition. The treatment for luxating patella is:
Administering pain relief medications will help reduce the discomfort, pain and swelling
Physical therapy could be given to dogs, to strengthen their muscles and make sure the knee cap does not snap out of place.
A realignment surgery is recommended in severe cases where there is a lot of pain and movement of the dog is difficult.
Eligible vet bill
$5,000
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
health
Otitis
What is it?
It is a kind of ear infection that is often caused by the carelessness of the owner while giving a bath. It happens when the water enters the vertical canal of the dog and finds no way to come out. This then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria causing infection in the ear.
Clinical signs
This disease can be very severe which can lead to consequences as serious as complete deafness. The symptoms which indicate the presence of infection are -
Frequent shaking of the head
Scratching the affected ear
Dark discharge from either ear
Bad odor from ears
Redness and swelling at the ear canal.
Pain
Itchiness around the affected area
Crusting or scabs in the ears
Treatment
The first steps here will be to clean the affected ear thoroughly using a medicated ear cleanser. A topical medication may be recommended by the vet. Apart from these, oral medications like antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may be used to reduce the inflammation and spread of the infection. A surgery might be needed in severe cases, mandating it to removing the ear canal to prevent the further spread of the infection.
Eligible vet bill
$500
*Hypothetical reimbursement examples illustrate reimbursement of an eligible vet bill at the noted reimbursement rate, assuming the annual deductible had already been satisfied and the annual coverage limit has not yet been met. Annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit and coverage limits, and exclusions may apply. Eligibility may vary. Visit https://www.spotpetinsurance.ca/sample-policy for full terms. For Canada enrollments only, reimbursement rate is based on the pet's age.
Personality
Active
With a lot of energy, these dogs are very active and playful and love to be outdoors
Courageous
Despite the small size, Japanese Spitzs are known to be very courageous and protective of their owners
Amicable
They are very human-friendly and love to be around them, especially kids.
Lifetime Care
Coat
It is a double coat with a soft inner one and a thick, generous and a pure white outer coat
Colors
Japanese Spitz comes exclusively in white and no other color
Hypoallergenic
No
Grooming
The long-thick coat, which they shed twice per year will need daily brushing at the time of shedding. Otherwise, a weekly brush and an occasional bath would work fine, thanks to the Teflon coat which doesn’t allow dirt and mud to stick. Do not forget to trim the nails periodically though.
Training
This active breed of dog would need a regular course of activities to burn its energy. On the training front, it will be very easy as they are very eager to please humans. Early socialization and training is recommended.
The Japanese Spitz is a result of a combination of a lot of Spitzs including the German Spitz. It has traveled a major part of the world in the process of breeding to create better and improved versions. They do look like the American Eskimo Dog and the Samoyed. This is the reason the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize the breed. They are also the cousins of the white Pomeranians. The size of the Japanese Spitz can vary in different parts of the world.
Japanese Spitz: Introduction to the Breed
Having bred from a lot of different breeds across the world, including Japanese Dog Breeds, the breed has developed certain distinguishable physical features from which one can identify it.
Some of the notable and distinct physical characteristics of Japanese Spitz include:
Pure white and long fur
Long tail heavily covered with long fur
Mane-like fur at the neck
Curly tail at the back
Japanese Spitz is best suited for:
First-time pet owners
Families with children and preferably more members
Houses along with a small garden or an open space
Houses with other pets in the house
Things to watch out for before deciding to own a Japanese Spitz
They are low maintenance as such in terms of grooming. But they do tend to shed twice a year, during which time a regular brushing will be needed
You won’t be able to keep him/her away for a long time. They need humans around all the time.
They are calm in general but when they bark, be sure that almost your entire neighborhood is going to be able to hear
They are extremely friendly as a breed, which makes them scoreless on the watchdog and guard category
You won’t be able to keep the girls away as your dog’s beautiful white coat will attract each one of passing Byers
The dog won’t let you be sad for a long time as its beautiful smile and playful nature will force you to smile and forget your worries
What should a Japanese Spitz eat?
As a pet owner, your responsibility is high towards maintaining a good diet for your dog as it will decide whether the dog will live a healthy life or not. In the case of Japanese Spitz, you will have to start with 3 meals a day till they are 4 months of age, make it 2 then till 8 months, and then 1 meal after that. Dry puppy food along with occasional raw bones, chicken wings, necks, etc. can be given.
Conclusion
The beautiful, pure white, happy-go-lucky dogs, Japanese Spitz are a very warm and loving breed of dogs. They will love to spend time with you, cuddle with you and keep making you happy with their beautiful smile. They might bark loudly at times but you should not scold them for that because they work better on rewards. Once you get a Japanese Spitz home, it’ll be very difficult for you to stay sad for a long time.
Happy Mood and Health to your Doggo and lots of Love and Licks to you!
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